lol...Sorry about the infinately long comment thing, but I thought I had to get it out...lol... I didn't believe that at first that women had a hard time in the Fire Service compared to guys, until everything below started happening to me. Everyone has obsatcles they gotta go through in the Fire Service, which is obvious, but it seems like we got it harder than the guys. But that's okay though, we're stronger for it, right? We're just as good as our brothers! *Chuckles* Oh yeah, I'm still holding somewhat of a grudge against my top brass, but at least I'm doing something productive for my life (even though revenge is tempting at times...lol). I find that the best revenge is earning my badge and proving those skeptics wrong!

I've had higher-ups in my wildland-days that said that I could never amount or ever hope to be a full-fledged firefighter, bacasue I was 'skinny for a firefighter', followed by assumptions of my being too 'weak' for the job, even the Admin folks a the front office - Some lady was like, "You'll never be a firefighter - You're too little." I didn't say anything back to her out of respect, but form looking at her, she could never hope to fit into turnout gear herself (she's 6-times my size) and she says I can't fight a fire! To the point to where this one day, I went to DMV and got my Class B permit (with passenger endorsement to start) and the same "Top-brass" supervisor I looked up to for the past 2 years, refuses to train me in the vehicle which the permit pertained to. A year and a half before that, there were openings for firefighting candidates in the CCC-CDF Butte Fire Center in Mangalia, CA (free-ride Firefighter-1, wildland firefighting training and education - I mean the WHOLE enchilada!) I put in an application for admttance (I was the only girl from my CCC center at the time to put one in, fully qualified for enterance and everything. That Fire Center was supposed to have recieved applications from ALL interested candidates, delivered to them by whoever was in charge of each candidate's CCC center. I found out that the person in charge gave my spot to the academy to another person, who came back a week later bacause the Academy kicked him out. It was almost like I didn't exist!) I never forgave my higher-ups for that. I was very heart broken, I was even found crying for a while by my fellow hand crew members... That's why after the DMV thing, I resigned and started paying for my own fire education. That's why I have 2 jobs on Base at 29 Palms. Most of those 'higher-up' guys didn't believe in me, but that's okay, becasue I didn't give up on my dream of becoming a full-fledged firefighter - And I won't let politics (or Top-Brass) get in the way of seeing my goal realized! This is also why I hate politics getting in the way of firefighting or any job. It ruins stuff.

I'm totally obsessed with and love firefighting (this profession is drawing me in like a crazy-strong electromagnet or somethin'), but I'm also an artist and I was thinking about writing/illustrating a book or dojinshi (Japanese for "self-made/publishd manga, comics or novels") about the firefighting profession based on my personal experiences or just about firefighting in general, with a storyline to follow, of course. (Haven't decided whether it would be of the fiction or non-fiction genre). I got firefighing drawings everywhere in my house, and the book idea instantly popped into my head! I was thinking that creating a firefighting dojinshi could turn out to be a great fundraiser for any department, and can give the public a real eye-opener on what firefighters and EMS do and go through, you know, like an educational thing. *Chuckles* What is this budding firefighter/author to do? I'm just bursting with ideas on how to go about this project, but I need a little help (And technical advice from firefighters senior to me)...lol. So, what's your take on my idea?

What's up, Firefighter! Thanks for the invite! Just wondering, did you like that one drawing on my profile that I made? It's my alter-ego Inu-shouboushi (Dog Firefighter, or for short, Firedawg) lol. As for me, I was trained as a wildland firefighter in the California Conservation Corps (was there for like 2-1/2 yeras), but I want to do more than just dig line...*giggles* So, I'm taking Fire courses at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree and I start EMT-B training starting August 16 thorough December 20th. I'm confident that I will be successful in getting through. I gotta pass this to get accepted into the school's Fire Academy anyway...lol.